MAGNOLIA: John D. Geary, 81, passed away on February 1, 2015. He was the husband of Jacquelyn (Beaudain) Gerring Geary.
Born in Gloucester on November 16, 1933, he was the son of the late John W. and Ethel M. (Mitchell) Geary. A graduate of the Gloucester High School class of 1951, he was a recipient of the Sawyer Medal.
A U.S. Army veteran, he served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged at the rank of Corporal in April of 1955.
John worked in the construction field most of his life. Along with the late Peter Cook, he partnered in Cook and Geary, which later became John Geary Construction, building and renovating many homes across the North Shore. He had also worked as a licensed public fire loss insurance adjuster.
Affectionately known to his grandchildren as Bumpy and as Johnny Thunder to family and friends, John was always involved in family activities.
An avid outdoorsman, he hunted in Vermont and Maine in the fall and fished for Bluefin Tuna in the summer. He also played cribbage on a daily basis.
He was a longtime member of the Amaral-Bailey Post #113, Manchester American Legion, the Manchester Lodge A.F. & A.M., the Amvets Post #32 of Gloucester, and the Gloucester Lodge of Elks No. 892.
In addition to his wife of 34 years, he is survived by three daughters, Julie Geary and her husband, Tom Champigny of Magnolia, Linda Geary of Gloucester, Charlene Morrison and her husband, Mark of No. Fort Myers, FL; three sons, Craig Geary and his better half Kelly Melendy of Pomfret, VT and Gloucester, Stephen Geary of Beverly and Rick Gerring of Magnolia; eight grandchildren, Cliff Ambrose, Stephen Ambrose, Bryanna Ambrose, Rachael Cecilio, Ashley Geary, Alex Morrison, Cassidy Morrison, Megan Morrison; three great-grandchildren, Aiden Aiello, Anthony Geary, and Julianna Coveney. He also leaves behind four sisters, Jacqueline Wilder of St. Petersburg, FL, Carole, wife of William Cheverie of Salisbury, Pamela, wife of Daniel Mikook of No. Dartmouth, Sharon, wife of Paul Berube of Kingston, NH; two brothers, David Geary of Dunedin, FL, Thomas Geary, husband of Debbie of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; two sisters-in-law, Judi Tocco, wife of Victor of Rockport, Gail Beaudain, wife of Jed Baumwell of Stockbridge, one uncle, two aunts, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also survived by many close friends including Lee Gates of Manchester, MA and Harry Parsons of Harpswell, ME. He was also predeceased by two sisters, Joan Boeggeman and Marjorie Manzi; one brother, Robert Geary, two brothers-in-law, Joseph Boeggeman and James Wilder.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday morning, February 14th, at the Sacred Heart Church, 62 School St., Manchester-by-the-Sea at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to Friends of Seacoast, 292 Washington St, Gloucester, MA 01930